Matchday 24 of the Glo Nigeria Premier league was no short of non stop action from the 12 teams that battled for points, there was premier league action in cities like Kastina, Taraba, Portharcourt, Owerri, Bauchi and Aba...
Well, we applaud the remarkable improvement in the level of competition in our league, a feature that has seen teams go away to pick up all three points. But matchday 24 did'nt greet us with much goals, as none of the encounters produced more than 2 goals.
Star Match
The star match of the round was between table toppers #Enyimba int'l FC and the Sai Masu Gida boys and defending league champion #Kano-Pillars FC at Aba, definitely a mouth waterinfg encounter, it was'nt short of entertainment, drama and controversy.
Enyimba started the game smoking as they took the game straight to their vistors, attacking from all angles in a bid to reclaim top sport in the league.
Former league golden boot winner Mfon Udoh came close with a shot that went off target in the 19th minute as the host continued to pile pressure, it was'nt untill the 27th minute that Enyimba got their breaktrhrough..
A cross from Daniel Etor glaced through the pillars penalty area, Pillars defender Bala Mohammed rose to head clear but a then he appeared to have touched the ball with his hand in the process, a deafening shout of "handball" as both Enyimba players and fans seemed to be in sync with the situation, refree needed no consultation with his linesman as he promptly whistled and pointed to the spot.
Stand up Ifeanyi Geoarge! the attacker stepped up and converted with ease from 12 yards, beeming with smile he ran towards the Aba screaming fans, knelt down as he got mobbed by teamates, the people's elephant where one up and it was to stay that way to the end.
The game continued to be action packed with the likes of Kingsley Sokari and substitute Mfon Udoh being a constant menace to the Baba Ganaru led Pillars but there was never going to be an increase in the tally.
A string a wasted chances and poor team work from pillars ensured that they never did get back in the game.
While Pillars will blame the defeat on inspirational keymen like Rabiu Ali and Moses Ekpai missing the encounter, Enyimba will be happy to see they can grind out victories without their inspirational captain Chinedu Udoji.
With the victory Enyimba overtake Sunshine stars at the sumit of the log, while Pillars 6 game unbeaten run is brought to a halt as they remain 5th.
El-Kanemi Warriors 0-0 Warri Wolves
At the Kastina Township stadium, the Borno Warriors could not sneak anything past the Warri Wolves defence led by super-eagles defender Azubuike Eguekwe, it was a daunting encounter for the boys from Borno as all efforts to get an opener proved abortive, given that their visitors decided to part the bus instead of going all out to score.
The host kept mounting pressure on the vistors in a bid to avenge the 5-0 loss the suffered ehen they went away but simply could not get the desired breakthrough.
A boring game by all standards, match finished nil-nil to the disappointment of the home fans.
Dolpins 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Dolphins kept their hopes of staying one more season in the Nigeria premier league alive with a lone goal victory against high flying sunshine stars.
It was a pulsating encounter as Dolphins really look determined to win from the blast of the whistle, in the 56th minute Dolphins attacker Abitimi was brought down 25yards from and the deciding free kick would prove to be the difference between the sides.
David forced a magnificent save off Oghogho Oduokpe on the 32nd minutes, but Musa missed out from a glaring opportunity to put the visitors in front five minutes to the break, when Rotimi misjudged Olurundare's low cross. Musa would only chip above the woodwork from six yards.
Dolphins had to wait till the 56th minute for a breakthrough, when defender, Jonathan Zikiye curled in an absolute screamer of a free kick 25 yards out.
David produced a stunning save to keep out Asamoah's header on the 75th while Joseph Douhadi had to clear the lines late on, as Rotimi's mistake almost gifted the visitors an equalizer.
Coach of the Port-Harcourt side, Eguma said after the game, he is confident his side will beat the drop and stay in the top flight next season.
"We are optimistic we will come out if relegation zone. I am happy with the result and I praise Zikiye for that goal.
My strikers are not playing as a unit. They will blend with more playing time together". Eguma added.
Wikki Tourist 2-0 Abia Warriors
Mubarak Umar completed a brace as Wikki Tourist of Bauchi outclassed Abia Warriors of Umuahia 2-0 at Tafa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi in a Match Day 24 midweek fixture which the Bauchi side dominated from start to end.
The match played under closed door saw both teams in a slow start trying to avoid defeat. The two teams did not really play up to expectation of football pundits but it was the hosts that showed clear intent even as they were forced into an early substitution due to injury. The only highlight of the first half of the match was the late goal scored at the dot of first half by Mubarak Umar of Wikki Tourists.
On resumption of the second half within the space of three minutes Umar doubled the lead for the host team. This brought out the best in their opponents but that was to last for just 15 minutes. What seemed to be a hat-trick for Umar was cleared off the goal line by Ogbonnaya Okemmiri of Abia Warriors towards the end of the game.
Interestingly, it was the fairest of fixtures as both teams completed the 90 minutes with no player cautioned. The Centre Refree, Nasiru Ibrahim's sense of judgement was never in doubt as he had a fantastic officiating. It was significantly the first win for the Wikki Tourists since the resumption of the second round of the 2014/15 Glo Premier League and second win on the trot after their fifth away win recorded in Ilorin against Kwara United.
FC Taraba 0-0 Bayelsa United
Heartland 1-0 Kwara United
There was a man of the match performance at the Dan Ayiam stadium by Heartland's Julius Ubido as Heartland laboured to a slim 1-0 victory over Kwara United in a Match Day 24 fixture of the Glo Premier league, Wednesday.
It was the first match in front of their home fans since Match Day 10 when the Naze millionaires became journey men, playing home games at the Rojenny stadium and once in Port Harcourt.
The home team came out of the woods quite early and pressurized their visitors high up in their own half, leaving the Afonja Warriors dazed by their host's dominance in possessional play, creating telling passes that they failed to make count.
The visitors could only create a chance in the opening 25 minutes when new recruit from Akwa Starlet, Essobe Chukwudi making his debut made a good run into the homers box after beating two defenders neatly but with a failing to cash in on a glorious opportunity at sight. He shot wide.
Prior to that act, Ubido did run the show by sending lovely crosses into the opposing box but as usual there was either no one in sight or those reached failed to connect properly. He also took his trademark free kicks in the edge of the box but nothing worked in their favour.
The visitors tried as much as they could especially in the second half when they took the game to the homers but Emmanuel Iwu in Heartland's goal was rarely troubled.
The Naze millionaires played a very tactical game, keeping the opponents at bay but popping up with chances from time to time though they could not increase their tally, Emeka Ogbugh their biggest culprit.
Ebere Odiche almost did in the closing moments as a long range cracker from the edge of the box beat Yekeen but hit the post.
Still to come before we say bye bye to matchday 24
Sharks - Lobi Stars
Ifeanyi Ubah - Akwa United
Giwa - Enugu Rangers
Shooting Stars - Nasarawa United
These teams did'nt play on wednesday because of their involvement in the federatios cup
they square up against each other in a week from now on 26th August 2015.
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